In This Issue
Huge Effort Needed To Reinstate Sailing At Paralympic Games | In The Story Of Coady vs ISAF | Musto Are The Official Suppliers To The British Sailing Team | FAST40+ RORC Easter Regatta | New Corsican Venue For GC32 Racing Tour | Marine Industry News | Featured Brokerage

Brought to you by Seahorse magazine, Scuttlebutt Europe is a digest of sailing news and opinions, regatta results, new boat and gear information and letters from sailors -- with a European emphasis. Contributions welcome, send to

Huge Effort Needed To Reinstate Sailing At Paralympic Games
Scuttlebutt editor Craig Leweck checked in with Para World Sailing Manager Massimo Dighe for an update.

Is there critical criteria that must be met this year?

The critical criteria is listed in the IPC Handbook, November 2013, Paralympic Games, Organization Principles, Section 1, Chapter 3:

4.2.2 Sport's (discipline's) worldwide reach eligibility

"...Only individual sports and disciplines widely and regularly practiced in a minimum of thirty-two (32) countries and three (3) IPC regions may be considered for inclusion in the Paralympic Games...".

At the 2017 Para World Sailing Championships on June 20-25, we need to reach and possibly exceed this target, showing the Paralympic World that we're working to create a solid movement that would guarantee strong participation at all levels of our sport for the future.

And if this quota is not met, is the door closed for 2024?

Yes, the IPC Criteria is not negotiable.

How many countries on average participate in Sailing at the Para Worlds?

The average participation at previous Para Worlds has been around 28 nations. In the Rio 2016 cycle, we had 32 nations participating at the principle Paralympic Games qualification regattas.

Any other 'make or break' levels at the 2017 Para Worlds?

The main aim is to increase participation and initiatives from our strategic plan released last year are supporting this. We are working closely with emerging nations from continents where access has been very limited in the past and this will add value to our proposal.

How hard is it to get participation now when Sailing is not in the 2020 Paralympics?

To increase participation in Paralympic sailing following the sports exclusion from the 2020 Paralympics has been challenging. A lot of countries suffered national funding cuts, and for some this meant that the funds were reduced to zero.

Full article in Scuttlebutt:
www.sailingscuttlebutt.com

In The Story Of Coady vs ISAF
I wonder what the Elvstrom family would make of the recent trend to provide specific sailing events and races for female sailors.

Sailing has the privilege of being one the few sports where men and women can compete on a relatively even basis across a wide range of classes as proven by Mr and Ms Elvstrom in the 1984 Olympics. Ellen McArthur another example was one of the few female sailors to insist on competing on an equal basis rather than leverage her obvious marketability to create a female team, preferring to 'beat up on' the guys at their own game, either on her own or as part of a mixed crew.

If Ms. Coady, Ms. Elvstrom and Ms. McArthur would like to 'front up' on the startline to compete against an open field, then the race and class organisers should just fire the start gun and applaud when the girls do well.

I hope my own daughter has such opportunities and mentors when it's her turn.

Maybe ALL male only events should be OPEN as in 1980 or are the guys too afraid to be beaten by a girl!

See the ISAF olympic trend
1980: 6 events; all events open to men and women
1984: 7 events; 6 open, 1 men's
1988: 8 events; 4 open, 3 men's, 1 women's
1992: 10 events; 4 open, 3 men's, 3 women's
1996: 10 events; 4 open, 3 men's, 3 women's
2000: 11 events; 5 open, 3 men's, 3 women's
2004: 11 events; 4 open, 3 men's, 4 women's
2008: 11 events; 3 open, 4 men's, 4 women's
2012: 10 events; 2 open, 4 men's, 4 women's
2016: 10 events; no open, 5 men's, 4 women's, 1 mixed

Obviously certain classes due to strength requirements and weight demands do make an uneven platform for the male/female to compete, especially as the current trend in Olympic classes has moved towards athletic focussed disciplines.

To highlight a positive example the creation of the mixed class Nacra 17 class in the last Olympics seems to have been a success, as showcased in such an amazing way by the Santiago Lange and Cecilia Carranza Saroli (ARG) winning gold after a heart-stopping Medal Race.

However, the current trend across many classes in creating specific female class/event and opportunities is often more artificial than beneficial, often creating differences rather than a level race course.

Under 30's, Women, African, Australians, Chinese, Over 60's, 3 legged Martians and even the French don't need special treatment in our sport, just the chance to line up on the start line with everyone else and prove their worth.

While the promotion of women's sailing is fundamental to the health and success of our sport, the notion that getting into sailing as being hard for females is exclusive flag to hang feminism on is wrong.

Getting into sailing is not easy for many people, whether due to financial, demographic, geographic, or family situation, it is through PERSONAL effort, commitment, persistence and a simple lifestyle choice that anyone can get on the water.

The subsequent privilege of competing, at any level, is something then to be earned not a right to demand.

Make ALL events Open.
Maintain mixed and female classes only where needed.

Damian Foxall
Father of Neave Foxall, Age 6.
May she stand on to her own two feet, head high and hair blowing in the wind swept spray.

* Editor... the backstory to Damian's email:

- Daughter-Father try to compete in the Men's Skiff class at the Sailing World Cup, an event for Olympic campaigners. They are disqualified for not both being male per event documentation.
- The daughter launches an online petition to halt the discrimination and breach of human rights which she claimed to have occurred.
- The father is banned from the sport for one year due to his horrific behavior during the jury hearing.
- The daughter files a sex discrimination case against the regional sailing authority.

Details in the Herald Sun:

Musto Are The Official Suppliers To The British Sailing Team
Musto Musto are thrilled to announce that they are, once again, the official supplier of Apparel, Luggage, Accessories and Footwear to the British Sailing Team.

The world's leading sailing brand will once again be joining up with the most successful Olympic Classes sailing nation in history, on their journey to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. With rising stars such as Ben Saxton, Kieran Martin & Eilidh McIntyre there is a new generation of talent emerging with exciting potential that Musto is proud to be a part of.

Britain has a proud history of achievement in the sport across the board, and paired with pioneering apparel, the British Sailing Team will be looking to add to their medal successes over the next four-year cycle.

Musto, leading from the front in innovation and technology, will be providing the British Sailing Team with the Inside Edge. It's the precise attention to detail, decades of experience and winning mentality that have kept Musto at the forefront of the industry, and these are the exact qualities the team will need to be successful on the big stage.

Musto are also proud to partner with the British Youth Sailing Team, launching the Musto Junior Riders initiative to support youth athletes.

Petra Carran, Head of Marketing for Musto said: "It is extremely exciting to partner with the most successful sailing team in Olympic history, and provide them with the most innovative kit solutions from Musto. Combining Musto's industry leading technology with the British Sailing Team's experience on the water will, we hope, lead to a successful challenge for gold".

RYA Performance Director, John Derbyshire OBE, said: "We're delighted to be teaming up once again with Musto for this four-year cycle towards Tokyo – a venue which of course carries special significance for company founder and medal-winning sailing Olympian Keith Musto.

"It's vital that the British Sailing Team partners with a quality brand which shares its values of collaboration and innovation in order to keep our athletes at the cutting edge of the sport, and looking great to boot.

musto.co.uk

FAST40+ RORC Easter Regatta
After a busy winter with lots of the FAST40+ race teams carrying out some exciting developments to their boats, 5 of the teams are ready to hit the water for early season racing for the RORC Easter Challenge which takes place between 14th and 16th April in the Solent.

The 5 competing FAST40+ at the RORC Easter Challenge:

42º SOUTH
Mark Rijkse's New Zealand flagged, IRC optimized Reichel Pugh 42 will be racing in its 2nd season and should prove very competitive in the lighter to moderate winds.

HITCHHIKER
Previously owned by Peter Morton (Girls on Film), this boat won the 2016 season. New owner is Bastien De Voogd from The Netherlands, bringing the first Dutch team to the class racing the Carkeek designed Hitchhiker.

INVICTUS
Sir Keith Mills and team onboard Ker 40+ Invictus are looking forward to the first outing of the season and building on last year's 2nd place finish for the season.

TOKOLOSHE Owner Mike Bartholomew and team have been putting in a lot of work over the winter to their Carkeek designed South African flagged boat– they have a new livery and have removed the coachroof to reduce weight – we look forward to seeing the new streamlined machine in action!

ZEPHYR
Steve Cowie's boat is also ready for action sailing mostly with an amateur Scottish crew and with Ian Budgen calling tactics.

Although this event does not count as part of the official FAST40+ Race series, it does give the teams the chance to stretch their legs and get back into action. Due to the relaxation of the RRS41 (which enables the competitors to receive outside assistance), this event also now sees the involvement of a number of experienced coaches including Jim Saltonstall and Eddie Warden Owen, on the water to help the teams get up to speed and hit the ground running.

www.fast40class.com

Details on the RORC Easter Challenge:
www.rorc.org/news/

New Corsican Venue For GC32 Racing Tour
Scheduled for 13-16th September, the GC32 Orezza Corsica Cup will take place in Calvi on the northwest corner of Corsica. The town is a favourite tourist destination, especially with French holiday-makers and is most picturesque, featuring a medieval citadel, complete with cobbled streets and sizable cathedral, perched at the end of the promontory at the western end of its bay. In the shadow of the citadel is the town's 550 berth Port Xavier Colonna, the marina where the fleet of GC32 foiling catamarans will be based during the GC32 Orezza Corsica Cup.

Importantly Calvi is also richly steeped in maritime history. It is allegedly the birthplace of Christophe Columbus and is also where Britain's most famous naval officer, Lord Nelson, lost his eye. More recently Calvi has hosted grand prix for the ORMA 60 trimaran class and famously was a stopover on the 2000 Tour de France à la Voile, which was won by the British Barlo Plastics team.

The new Corsican event will run into Marseille One Design, taking place over 12-15th October, once again with the support of Ville de Marseille, which this year holds the prestigious position of 'European Capital of Sport'.

The GC32 Orezza Corsica Cup is taking place thanks to the support of title sponsor, Orezza. A naturally gaseous mineral water, Orezza, comes from a spring in the heart of one of the most beautiful regions of Corsica, the Castagniccia, in the forest of the Regional Natural Park.

Following today's announcement and that last week of Villasimius in southeastern Sardinia, the schedule for the GC32 Racing Tour for 2017 is now complete. The circuit for the one design foiling catamarans, that is aimed both at both pro and experienced owner-driver teams, will visit five venues this season with two in Italy followed by the Mediterranean's leading multi-class regatta, Copa del Rey MAPFRE and then culminating in the French events in Calvi and Marseille.

2017 GC32 Racing Tour
11-14 May - GC32 Riva Cup / Riva del Garda, Italy
28 June-1 July - GC32 Villasimius Cup / Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy
2-5 August - 36 Copa del Rey / Palma de Mallorca, Spain
13-16 September - GC32 Orezza Corsica Cup, Calvi, Corsica
12-15 October - Marseille One Design / Marseille, France

www.gc32racingtour.com

Industry News
Progressive Insurance Strictly Sail Miami will join the Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show at Miami Marine Stadium for the 2018 show, the National Marine Manufacturers Association announced Monday.

The 2018 Progressive Miami International Boat Show will be held February 15-19 at Miami Marine Stadium.

The Progressive Strictly Sail Miami show, which was previously held at Miamarina at Bayside at the same time as the Progressive Miami International Boat Show, will bring nearly 100 sail boats to Miami Marine Stadium's deep water basin. NMMA expects more than 700 boats in water and a sold out land exhibition at the 2018 Miami International Boat Show.

"The decision to combine these two iconic events is due in large part to feedback from sail and power exhibitors and attendees, for a single streamlined experience that encompasses all our industry has to offer," said Ben Wold, executive vice president of NMMA and show manager for the Progressive Miami International Boat Show. "We've built the ultimate boat show venue at Miami Marine Stadium that's ideal for both power and sail so bringing these two shows together will without a doubt deliver even more impressive results for the industry."

boatingindustry.com

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The East Mediterranean Superyacht Forum, taking place in Athens, Greece on 1st June, 2017 is a one-day conference bringing together superyacht industry experts from across Europe. With an emphasis on discussion and debate, the conference will discuss the growing attraction of the eastern Mediterranean as taxation tightens in western Europe.

The conference programme will examine Geo-political trends and their impact on the superyacht industry; Global Superyacht Sales and Projections; Cruising around the East Mediterranean; Examining the restrictions on chartering; Cabotage in Greece; Marina Developments: Greek Marinas and the challenges facing marina developers worldwide.

You can see the latest agenda and all information on the event here: Conference Agenda

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The long-running efforts to upgrade the Cypriot port and marina at Larnaca appear to be making progress at last. In response to an invitation for expressions of interest made by the Cyprus government last November, five consortia have responded.

No details of the five bidders are available but IBI understands that a number of international parties are sharing in the five potential bids. An official press release indicated that that each of the bids will now be assessed on financial and technical grounds by a panel made up of project experts and representatives of the Ministry of Transport.

This evaluation process should be completed by the end of this month or early May. Following that the successful bidder will be invited to make a full tender and conclude a concession agreement. In the autumn work of the funding of the development and the completion of a contract between the various parties involved in the tendering process will begin.

The project has a history going back over two decades with a mix of bureaucracy and legal disputes having caused delay after delay. Zenon Consortium had previously entered a bid in 2008 but was unable to find sufficient finance to proceed.

Larnaca is one of three new marina projects currently in various stages of development. A new 600 berth marina is now under construction at Ayia Napa for completion in 2019. It is a €250m project and includes a resort and significant upland development. A project at Paphos has been under way but has been delayed by various disputes.

https://plus.ibinews.com

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Marine Results have agreed a sponsorship package with British Sailing Team duo Megan Brickwood and her crew Ellie Aldridge from Poole, to support their bid to represent the UK at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in the 49er FX class.

The pair are currently based in Cadiz, Spain with the British Sailing Team for winter training where squad camps are held each month to allow the sailors to gain time on the water with warmer temperatures and longer days than the UK would offer.

In March Ellie and Megan will be training in Palma and competing in the Princess Sofia Regatta there at the end of March, plus a number of other events, the focus of which is Kiel Week in June.

Both are part of the British Sailing Team Podium Potential Squad. Megan, who is from Hamble, has been in the program now for four years, recently moving to the FX to campaign with Ellie, from Poole, who joined the program in the summer of 2016.

Together they scored first British girls in the 2016 49er FX Junior World Championships.

www.facebook.com/teambrickwoodaldridge

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The National Marine Manufacturers Association said new sailboat retail sales [in the USA] totaled 6,500 units in 2016, up 16.1 percent from the previous year.

The NMMA said 2016 sales were at a level more consistent with the historical trend after a 33.9 percent spike in 2014 and a 25.3 percent drop in 2015. (The average between 2007 and 2013 was 6,643 units.)

Sales of sailboats between 12 and 19 feet were up 23.4 percent - this size segment accounted for 63.9 percent of all new sailboats sold in the United States in 2016, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, which released its statistical abstract section on sailboats today.

Sailboat production declined 4.2 percent in 2016, compared with the prior year. However, imports surged 35.3 percent for the year.

As part of the new format and release schedule for the NMMA's 2016 U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, the second section, Sailboat Sales Trends 2005-2016, is now available on NMMA.org.

www.tradeonlytoday.com

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+44 1983 200901

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FELIX (ex Inis-Mor) is one of the most successful RORC IRC boats ever raced. Results over the past 8 years are hard to beat, across both the inshore and offshore series. She is turn-key for 2016 and beyond and with recent upgrades for the Commodores Cup she is looking fantastic.

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See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
To the dumb question, 'Why me?' the cosmos barely bothers to return the reply, 'Why not?' -- Christopher Hitchens

Editorial and letter submissions to

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

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